Liquid composition for driving self-propelled torpedoes



N0 Drawing.

emplo Patented Oct. 21', 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

imnsox or riora'rcoiw aoaouen, NEW JERSEY.

Mauro courosn'rou ml narvme snnr-raorannrm roarnnons.

To all whom it may concm:

Be it known that I, HUDSON Mam, a resident of the borough of Hopatcong, county of Sussex, and State of New Jersey, have equivalent, or a solution of ammonium nitrate in water and a self-combustive or explosive solvent such as a mixture of alcohol and di-nitroglycerin or other suitable selfcombustive or'explosive oxidizing agent'or material which is a solvent of or is' soluble in the solvent of the ammonium nitrate.

Ammonium nitrate being completely soluble at 60 F. in half its welght 0 water, and still more soluble in sucha quantity of water with the addition of alcohol thereto, I have found good results from the employement of an aqueous alcoholic solution of ammonium nitrate, consisting of eight parts ammonium nitrate and four parts water and two parts alcohol, but this compound is rendered more readily inflammable and self-combustive in the combustion chamber of a torpedo, by the addition of a certain proportion of di-nit-roglycerin The lar er the proportion of dinitroglycerin adde the more readily is the material rendered inflammable, and'I have found good results from the employement of a solution consisting of eight parts ammonium nitrate, four parts water, two parts alcohol and sixteen parts di-nitroglycerin.

Any excess of heat in the products of combustion and steam as'they escape from the combustion chamber of the torpedo, that is to say, at the nozzle of the torpedo, above 1100 F., or above what may be practicable or desirable, is absorbed by the addition of water to the esca ing stream of products of combustion. e watermay be with ad vantage and preferabl is forced by the flame blast through a suitab e mixingor atomizing device, and the steam and products of comution of ammonium nitrate in a com ust1ble solvent such as alcohol =or.1ts

Application am February 2:, 1921. Serial No.,447,177.

bustion utilized for actuating a turbine or to serve by other means to drive a torpedo.

' It will be seen that needed water may be ad ed to and form a part of the self-combustive and explosive liquid fuel, but instead of using any water in the solution of ammonium nitrate and alcohol, I may and sometimes do employ a solution of ammonium nitrate in alcohol or alcohol and di-nitroglycerin without the ad art or all of the dllJlOliOf water, any excess alcohol beyond that required to combine with the excess of oxygen in the ammonium nitrate being evaporated by the heat of reaction of infiam mation or decomposition of the ammonium nitrate.

What is claimed is 1. A self-combustive liquid fuel for evaporating water for driving torpedoes, containing the whole or part of the water to be evaporated.

2. A liquid fuel for driving torpedoes, consisting of an explosive material dissolved a solution of water and. another combusti- 3. A liquid fuel for driving torpedoes, consisting of ammonium nitrate dissolved in water, together with a combustible element or substance, sufficient to combine with the excess of oxygen liberated by the de- "composition of the ammonium nitrate.

4. A 1i uid explosive material for driving torpe oes, consisting of a solution of ammonium nitrate, water, and di-nitroglycerin.

5. A self-combustive fuel for driving torpedoes, consistin of ammonium nitrate, dinitroglycerin an another combustible material. I

6. A self-comb'ustive liquid fuel for driv ing torpedoes, containing ammonium nitrate dissolved in a medium, of which a combustible solvent of ammonium nitrate is an ingredient.

7. A liquid fuel for driving torpedoes, containing ammonium nitrate and another explosive material in solution.

8. A liquid fuel for driving torpedoes, consisting of a solution of ammonium nitrate containing other ingredients which render the solution capable of being vaporized and enflamed in the combustion chamber of the torpedo by the heat of reaction of self-combustion of the li uid.

9. A liquid fuel for driving torpedoes,

oxidizing salt and :onsisting of a rate containing render the solution capable of being vaporized and enflamed in the combustion chem-'- ber of the torpedo b the heat of reaction of self-combustion o the liquid, and capable of being detonated or exploded b3 the detonation or explosion of the warhea 10.- A liquid self-combustive fuel for driving torpedoes, consisting of a solution of an combustible material whereby the liquid is rendered capable of being vaporized and enflamed without detonation 1n the combustion chamber of the torpedo by the heat of its own reaction. I

11. A liquid self-combustive fuel for driving torpedoes, consisting of a solution of an oxidizing salt and combustible material I whereby-the liquidis rendered capable of i being vaporized and enfiamed without detonation 1n the combustion chamber of the torpedo by the heat of its own reaction, and capable of being detonated by the detonation of. the warhead when in proximity to the warhead at the moment of detonation of the warhead.

solution of ammonium niother ingredients whichcombustion chamber of the torpedo.

13. A self-combustive and explosive liquid fuel for torpedoes, consisting of a solution of ammonium nitrate inasuitable solvent as shall min t the solution to be vaporized and enfiame by the heat of its own combustion or decomposition without detonation in the combustion chamber of the torpedo, and furthermore ada ted, when in proximity to the warhead of t 'e torpedo, to'be detonated or exploded'by the detonation or explosion of the warhead.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

I I HUDSON MAXIM.

Witnesses 

